First Death Linked to Red Meat Allergy Transmitted by Ticks Confirmed

Researchers at the University of Virginia (UVA) School of Medicine have confirmed the first known death caused by alpha-gal syndrome, commonly referred to as the “meat allergy,” which is transmitted through bites from the Lone Star tick. The case highlights the potentially fatal consequences of this increasingly prevalent allergy.

The Case and Discovery

The victim was a 47-year-aged man from New Jersey who died approximately four hours after consuming beef. For months, the cause of his sudden death remained a mystery. Dr. Thomas Platts-Mills, MD, PhD, a UVA Health physician and internationally recognized allergy specialist, investigated the case and ultimately identified the link to alpha-gal syndrome. Dr. Platts-Mills originally discovered the condition years ago and continues to lead research into its effects on patients.

How Lone Star Tick Bites Trigger Alpha-Gal Allergy

The allergy develops after a bite from the Lone Star tick. These bites can cause the immune system to become sensitized to alpha-gal, a sugar naturally found in red meat from mammals. Once sensitized, individuals may experience allergic symptoms after consuming beef, pork, or lamb. Common reactions include skin rashes, nausea, and vomiting. Severe reactions can lead to anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.

From Mysterious Symptoms to Fatal Anaphylaxis

The New Jersey man had gone camping with his family in the summer of 2024. He initially experienced severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting after a steak dinner, but recovered overnight. Two weeks later, unaware of his developing allergy, he ate a hamburger and collapsed shortly after, ultimately leading to his death. Autopsy results initially listed the cause of death as “sudden unexplained death.”

Blood Tests Confirm the Allergy

Further investigation by Dr. Platts-Mills, including blood tests taken after the man’s death, confirmed he had been sensitized to alpha-gal and experienced a severe immune response consistent with fatal anaphylaxis. The man’s wife recalled numerous itchy bites around his ankles earlier in the summer, initially attributed to chiggers, but Dr. Platts-Mills recognized these were likely bites from Lone Star tick larvae.

Factors Potentially Worsening the Reaction

Researchers believe several factors may have intensified the man’s allergic response, including consuming beer with the hamburger, exposure to ragweed pollen, and prior physical exercise. The fact that he rarely ate red meat may similarly have contributed to the severity of the reaction.

Rising Tick Populations and Increased Risk

Dr. Platts-Mills emphasizes the importance of awareness among both doctors and patients, particularly in areas with high Lone Star tick populations. Increasing deer populations are contributing to the spread of these ticks. He advises that severe abdominal pain occurring 3 to 5 hours after eating mammalian meat should be investigated as a possible episode of anaphylaxis.

What to Watch For

• Severe abdominal pain occurring 3 to 5 hours after eating beef, pork, or lamb
• Tick bites that itch for more than a week
• Larvae of ticks often called “chiggers”

About Dr. Thomas Platts-Mills

Dr. Thomas Platts-Mills is a professor of medicine and microbiology at UVA and former chief of UVA Health’s Division of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology. He is internationally recognized for his research into the causes of asthma and allergic disease, including the discovery of the Lone Star tick-related meat allergy. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2010 for his contributions to the field.